Election data and the question of apathy...

Some recall election data....

There have been some questions about the cost of the election. It is not posted on the Linn County website, but the elections office department phone number is 967-3831, and the last I heard the exact cost had not been figured yet.

Also, if you look at http://www.co.linn.or.us/elections/ElectionArchive/20080520results.HTM
you can see down at the bottom a vote relative to the City of Lebanon in May of 2008 (which was a primary election as well) in which only 3398 people in Lebanon voted.

And, http://www.co.linn.or.us/elections/ElectionArchive/20070515results.htm shows the last school board election with 3959 voters in Lebanon total.

And yet if you look at the number of voters that can be found for the recall election (which can be seen at http://www.co.linn.or.us/elections/ElectionArchive/20081007Results.htm) you see that there were 6350 votes cast.

No one can convince me that there was voter apathy about this situation. It would seem to me that there was much more voter interest than there has been in a long time.

However, there is still apparent apathy in that there has not been more outcry to the Board, either in support or opposition and so I want to hold a few of you accountable...

If you care about what is going on in our schools, speak up! Right away... don't wait and think to yourself, "oh, there are others who are talking and the vote should be enough to get things going," it is not enough. Mr. Alexander and Mr. Wineteer still need support to move things along and fix this district for out kids and teachers. Ms. Shimmin and Mr. McUne are well meaning, but they tend to be tentative and overly worried about appearances to "both sides."

In a normal situation that would be fine, but in this case one "side" was controlling and bullying the rest of the community for years and really should not be allowed much say for awhile while the victims get a chance to have the major problems fixed.

The problem is that there is a clear majority and they need to hear from you so they can feel confident in their votes.

Come to the board meeting tomorrow and put your effort where your beliefs are.

Let's shut down the remainder of the apathy and make history here.

Let's get Lebanon moving in the right direction by starting where it matters most, with our kids!